To transfer Google Authenticator to Microsoft Authenticator, you must manually disable and re-enable two-factor authentication for each account because no direct import feature exists. This guide walks you through that essential process, ensuring you maintain access to every service.
The truth about transferring Google Authenticator to Microsoft Authenticator
There is no button, export, or sync that moves your accounts directly from Google Authenticator to Microsoft Authenticator. Each service, Google, Facebook, Amazon, or any other, stores its own 2FA secret, and only you can reset that secret by visiting the security settings of each account. The process is straightforward: turn off the authenticator app as your 2FA method on the service, then immediately turn it back on using Microsoft Authenticator. This guide details every step so you can complete the migration without losing access.
Before you start: essential precautions
Keep your old phone with Google Authenticator active until every account is verified on Microsoft Authenticator. Locate backup codes or recovery options for all your accounts, these are your safety net if something goes wrong during the transfer. Understand that Microsoft Authenticator’s cloud backup (which uses a Microsoft personal account on Android or iCloud on iOS) is designed to restore accounts already added to the Microsoft app; it cannot import data from Google Authenticator. Starting January 2027, Microsoft Authenticator on Android will transition from using a Microsoft personal account for cloud backup to Google One backup, but this change does not affect the manual transfer process described here.
Step 1: Disable two-step verification on an account in Google Authenticator
- Sign in to the service you want to move (for example, your Google account) on a computer or browser.
- Navigate to the security or two-step verification settings for that service.
- Find the option to turn off the authenticator app as your 2FA method. You may need to confirm the action by entering a code from Google Authenticator or using a backup code.
- After disabling, the service will no longer expect codes from Google Authenticator for that account.
This step removes the old 2FA link, clearing the way to re-enroll the account in Microsoft Authenticator.
Step 2: Re-enable two-step verification using Microsoft Authenticator
- On the same service’s security page, choose to add a new authenticator app or re-enable two-step verification.
- The service will display a QR code (and often a setup key).
- Open Microsoft Authenticator, tap the plus (+) icon in the top menu bar, and select “Other account” for non-Microsoft services.
- Scan the QR code with Microsoft Authenticator, or manually enter the setup key if the QR code is not available. The app will immediately begin generating time-based codes for that account.
- Verify the addition by entering the code shown in Microsoft Authenticator into the service’s confirmation field.
Once confirmed, the account is now secured by Microsoft Authenticator. You can safely delete an account from Google Authenticator after verifying it works in the new app.
Step 3: Repeat for all remaining accounts
Methodically repeat the disable-and-re-enable process for every other service currently in Google Authenticator. Do not skip any account. After each transfer, test the new code in Microsoft Authenticator by signing out and back into the service, or by using the service’s “test 2FA” option. Only move to the next account once the current one is verified. Keeping your old phone active throughout ensures you always have a fallback if you accidentally disable an account before re-enabling it.
Why the Google Authenticator export feature won't help
Google Authenticator includes an “Export accounts” feature that generates QR codes of your current secrets. This feature is designed for transferring accounts to another instance of Google Authenticator or other compatible authenticator apps. It is not a reliable method for switching to Microsoft Authenticator because the exported QR codes may not be recognized by Microsoft’s app, and the process can introduce errors that leave you locked out. The only dependable path is the manual disable-and-re-enable workflow described above.
To integrate Google Authenticator with Microsoft Authenticator, you must follow this per-account reset process. If you ever need to retrieve a setup key in Google Authenticator for a new enrollment, the service you are re-enabling will provide it alongside the QR code. And once your accounts are safely in Microsoft Authenticator, you can delete an account from Google Authenticator without affecting your new setup.
